Refrigerating apparatus



Sept. 8, 1.931. J. J, BARRY REFRIGEHATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 12. 1929 I5 Sheets-Sheet l .....MMMMMHMH H HHH Hu Filed Aug. 12. 1929 3 ShsetsPSheet 2 Fig. 2,.

4 IIIIIII Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES J. BARRY, OF HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, ASSIGNOR T0 FROSTED FOODS COMPANY, INC.. OF DOVER, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application filed August 12, 1929. Serial No. 385,385.

This invention relates to refrigferatinpr apparatus ot' the type used for quick-freezing or chilling food products and to an in|- proved method of freezing such products.

Food products are quick-frozen most successfully between heat conductive members which tirmly engage the product upon opposite sides'ovcr a substantial arca therlof, thus establishing intimate contact and ensuring' uniform and rapid interchange of heat between product and the heat conduc tive members. Among?r other desirable factors. it is important that the unt'rozen product should he engaged with a measured defree of pressure between appropriate limits such that.` on the one hand` the shape of the product in its package or container may be maintained Without distortion by crushing, but on the other hand, it should be engaged with sutlicient pressure to cause the expansion of the product in freezing to take place internally, closing;r the voids in the product and thus solidil'ying the mass thereof. Provision must also be made tor supplying an ample quantity of coolinpr medium to the heat conductive members at a relatively low temperature to maintain a pronounced temperature difference between the product and the surfaces engaging it, and thus ensure rapid'heat interchange. The construction ot' the apparatus must also facilitate the presentation of the unfrozen product and the removal of the frozen product.

The present invention contemplates refrigeration apparatus embodyingr the der sirable characteristics above discussed and others as will presently appear. In one aspect, accordingly, it comprises refrigeration apparatus in which flat, rigid heatcon ducting members are arranged for relative movement to engage between them food iroduct in any desired form, such members iieing associated with means for supplying cooling medium thereto in all relative positions.

As herein shown, the lower heat conductive member is used to support the product and is stationary while the upper heat conductive member is arranged to be raised when the product is presented to the apparatus and then lowered into engagement therewith. The pressure ot' the uppenheat conductive member, in the illustrated embodiment of my invention, is due to gravity and is counterbalanced to bring it within suitable limits for the particular product in hand. This is one convenient construction for securing?r a measured degree of pressure upon the product to be frozen, and confers an important characteristic upon the apparatus. Any other mechanical expedient, however. in accordance with which the pressure of engagement between heat conductive plates is measured and maintained uniform between delnitc limits, regardless of the shape and thickness ot' the product being operated upon, would be within the scope oi my invention.

In order to facilitate the presentation to the apparatus ot the product to he frozen and its removal therefrom, the cooling Inedium is'led to and from the heat conductive members by connections located upon opposite ends thereof.y so that free and unobstructed space is provided on two sides of the apparatus. The product may thus be presented and removed from the same side or passed across the apparatus.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description ot' a. preferred embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which.

Fig. l is a view in front elevation, showing certain parts broken away:

Fig, 2 is a view in side elevation, the insulating chamber being shown in section; and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view, on the line 3--3 of Fig. l.

For purposes ot' illust anion,` I have shown the, apparatus` as enclosed in an insulated chamber, comprisiupT an outer casingr lll, an inner casing;f Il, and a filler 1;) ot' ground cork or other heat insulating material. The casing is provided with a hinged door i6 at itsl front side and is otherwise imperiorate except for thc pipe connections of the cooling system, to be presently described.

The character of the insulating enclosure is of secondary importance only, although for economy of refrigeration it is desirable to install the apparatus under conditions which will reduce its heat loss waste to a minimum.

lVithin the insulating chamber is provid ed a bench or support 2o for the lower stationary heat conductive member 22, while the upper heat conductive member 24 is suspended from the roof ot the chamber. The members 2'. :in d L! l; comprise cach a metallic rectangular plate or slab of similar construction. Cach plate is hollow to receive the cooling medium which is thus directed into close proximitj,v to its effective refrig erating face. As shown in Fig, 3, the plate :3l has a continuons vertical outer wall and its interior is broken by a. series of staggered baille plates Ztl, so that cooling medium sup plied at one corner thereof must follow a sinuous path, traversing constantly the entirc urea ot the plate. and finally discharging at its diamt-.trically opposite corner. A nipple 2S entering tht` vertical wall of the plato 2l at its rear right corner, as seen in Fig. il, constitutes an inlet connection for the cooling medium, while a similar nipple Btl, disposed in the wall of the plate il at` its front leitvhand corner, constitutes a discharge opening therefor. Similar nipples 2li and 3l are supplied in the lower plate Si tor admitting and discharging cooling medium.

The apparatus herein shown is well adapted to be operated with calcium chloride brine as a cooling medium and satisfactory results :1re secured when this is supplied in a concentration of about. dil Baume and maintained at an average tcmpcrature of 4150 below zero F. The precise nature of the cooling medium, however, is of secondary importance and I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the use of a liquid refrigerant.

As herein shown, the lower heat condor tive plate 22 is provided `with an inlet pipo 33 which leads to the inlet nipple 3:2 and with a discharge pipe 35 which leads from the discharge nipple ill. The interior of the plate 22 is provided with staggered baffle plates Q3 for directing the How of the cooling medium therein between the delivery and discharge points.

In order to maintain in all positions an operative connection with the movable upper plate 24, an inlet pipe B6 is provided which enters the insulated eliamber through its side wall near the lower right-hand corner thereof and communicates with the iniet nipple Q8 of the upper plate 24 through a flexible connection. including two lengths ol' flexible pipeI Iltl connected to an intern mediate coupling and suitable elbows at Langner their opposite ends. Similarly7 in the left. wall ot' the insulating chamber is provided an outlet` pipe lli which communicates with the outlet nipple lo ot' the upper plate 2l through a tlexible coniwction.` comprising two lengths ol' llexihle pipi` in and an intermediate coupling 50. ln the initial elevated position of the upper plate 2l, each pair of flexible pipes 3H and JS are bowed or disposed at an angle to nach other so as to clear the stationary inlet pipe lll and outlet pipe 255 ol' thc lower plate. lhen the lip-- per plate lowered, the llexible pipes 15H and 48 bend, temporarily displacing the in termediate couplings inwardly.

It will be understood that calcium chloride brine is continuously supplied tlnfough the inlet pipes h3 and ilo from a brine cooler of any usual kind, circulated independently through the heat conductive plates i!! and 24, and returned through the outlet pipes 35 and 4G to the ln'iinl cooler to be reeoolt-d in a continuous uninterrupted cycle.

The upper plate 2l being ot considerable weight is provided at eat-h corner with e. D llexibhconnection l1() passing over :i pulley lli secured in the ceiling ot the insulating chamber und ronnerted to a countcrweight 64. The counterweights are so designed as to comimos-ale for a part ol the weight ol' g5 the upper plate 2l but the plate tends always to descend and to rest upon the lower plate or upon the interposed produrt lo be frozen. ln quick-freezing relatively dense food produc-ts such as fresh meat or fresh 19g fish, a substantial amount ot pressure is desirable and, consequently, relatively light counterweights are employed. ln quickl`reexng a more fragile food product, such :is fruit, which would be. d-.nnaged by crushm5 ing, a lighter pressnrt` is desired and. consequently. a heavier set otl counterweights is lo be employed.

'lhe heat-conductivtplate 2l may be made sullitfientlyY heavtr to exert by its weight the 1m maximum desired pressure upon the product: anv less pressure may be secured b v the action of the rounterweights lll, the ell'ect. ol' which may he varied in accordance with the requirements of the product being U5 treated.

Any convenient means may be provided for raising and lowering the plate Q4. As herein shown, u rord {lll-is provided which passes over a pulley (nl severed to the eeilm0 ing of the insulating chamber over the renter of the plate. Bv this n ans the plate Q4 may be elevated and held in position. as shown in liigs. l and 2, whiliI the product to be frozen is placed und arranged upon m5 the lower plate 22. 1Win-n this has been accomplished` tho cord ou is released und the upper plate lowered. drszrorrling upon the product willi the desired uninsured presY sure. The insulating rlnnnhcr may then be lao `tained during the freezing closed and the contents of the apparatus quick-frozen in an interval depending upon the particular charge being handled and the rate of supply of the cooling medium. At the conclusion of the quick-freezing operation, the plate 24 is again elevated and the frozen contents ofjthe apparatus are eX- posed for convenient reinoval.

The food product to be quick frozen may be` presented to the apparatus in any desired form but preferably packed in flat rectangular cartons which, by the quickfreezing process, are converted into consumer packages, ready for immediate shipment and distribution. Under these conditions, the moist and plastic food product is shaped in packing to the interior of the carton, and the shape of the carton is mainoperation by bciuplr confined between the heat conductive plates of the apparatus.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for freezing food products, comprising a stationary fnollow heet Conductive plate for supporting the product. to be frozen, brine circulating,r connections for said plate. a cooperating hollow heat conductive plate movably mounted above and in vertical alignment with `said first. plate, a brine circulating system operatively connected to said second plate in all positions threreof, means for movingr said second plate vertically with relation to said first plate to accommodate and compress between said plates products of varied thicknesses, and means, such as counterweiglits connected to said plate at symmetrically disposed points, for regulating the pressure exerted y said second plate on the product engaged between the two plates.

2. Refrigeration apparatus for food products, comprising a stationary supporting plate for the product to be frozen, a cooperating heat conductive plate movable vertically above the supporting plate and arranged to rest by gravity upon the product supported thereby, means for limiting the pressure of engagement, and means for circulating a cooling medium through said movable plate in all positions thereof.

3. Refrigeration apparatus for food proclucts, comprisingr a pair of cooperating heat conductive members similarly shaped and mounted for relatiw Vertical movement to engage and press between them products of various dimensions, means for limiting the pressure of engagement to Hrs amount less than the weight of the uppermost member( and a circulating system for cooling medium operatively connected to said member io all positions thereof.

4. Refrigeration apparatus fiar food products, comprisingr a stationary refrigerated support for the product to be frozen, a. cooperating heat conductive plate inovably mounted above the support and arranged to rest upon an interposed product, means for raising and lowering said plate, counterweights connected thereto at symmetricaliy disposed points and acting to limit the pressure of engagement upon the product, and-'sl brine circulating system connected to plate in all positions thereof.

5. Refrigeration apparatus for food pr ucts, comprising cooperating heat cx't'ftive plates mounted in vertical alignment with each other and having parallel lrin passages therein, independent brine connections communicating at similar locations with the respective plates and arranged to permit the relative movement thereof", the plates normally approaching each othdi in a manner adapted to press a product therebetween with a predetermined pressuregrf'ii-nF means for separating,lr the plates.

G. Refrigeration apparatus for food products, comprising cooperatimr hollow. ea.;- ronductive plates arranged for rel tive movement to receive between them aproduct to be frozen, means for causing,r cooling medium to circulate through the plates, and

means whereby the plates engage and press a product placed therebetween with a predetermined pressure.

7. Apparatus for refrigerating food products comprisingr two hollow heat-conductive plates supported in spaced relation ,and adapted to engage between them food products of varying thicknesses and maintain under continuous, predetermined pressure a product thus engaged, and means for causing a cooling medium to circula-te through said plates.

Apparatus for the refrigeration of food products comprising two heat-conductive plates supported in spaced relation to engage and compress between them food products of varying thicknesses, and means for causing cooling medium to circulate through said plates, whereby said food is refrigerated through the agency of said plates.

9. Apparatus for freezing foods comprising a hollow heat-conductive plate adapted to support a food product, a second hollow heat-comluclive plate in adjustable spaced relation to said first plate, means to engage with said second plate the upper surface of a food product supported by said first plate with a measured pressure. and means for circulating a freezing medium through said plates, whereby said food will be refrigerated to any desired degree through the agency of said plates.

l0. Apparatus for freezing food products comprising tuo hollow plates supported in spared relation :ind adapted to engage between them food products of varying thicknesses and to maintain a product therebelwnon under uniform :uid prndctermncd pruxhurv, :ind mums to pass :i cooling luediuui lhrough 4uid plano to rnfrigcrule said product. whilo Qugaged und compri-smid by Suid platos.

1l. ApparuluA for fruvziug food products roluprising :i hollow pluk'. u Svcond plate supporlrd in `wpnwd relation to Huid first plutr. :unl iuvnus to adjust said spncvd reluliou u'lurvhy :i prmhu'; placed between Said pluies will lm vugugi-d :1nd vouiprvshed bctwrvu will plzitrs u'iLh n measured prossurr, :uid nuum for pussing :i cooling medium through uid hollow pluto lo rvfrigerzite said product.

1:5. Apparatus fur rvfrgernting food produrts, rompring vluuoberud heut-cmp luvliw plulrL haring pluml oppustvly-disposi-d prilortu-omging fares, rouuurtions for ril-rubbing u rooliug uwdiuu through :mid )lulrs to refrigerate thv product eu- :.filglml ln-.tu'ovu (luuu` :lud mvnlis for separating thu plutvs, said uuuus :nul Suid connut tions [wing: :5o disposi-cl us to lvuw (wo siilrs of the pleitos free nud unobstructed for (lio pruwililu ion :nul iruiovnl of (luproduc-l.

I3. 'llu uwthod of pluk-freezing.' u food product hvtworu rvlziiirvly :wpnrulrlv limit- L-oluluctiw pluim: u'liivli consstQ in plutllg the food pl'oilui'ts lutwovli Auid |ilu\`.r:-l nud lowvringtlw uppvrplzilr loi-0x1 on Suid food produi-t hy it.- owu wright.. whilv rouutvrhumm-ing thv `uur to apply :i iumisured :lv- LfrI-l of prosa-url to sn'ul food product.

l-l, The iuvlllod of piirk-frrvziug :i puch- ;Urgi-l I'oml prmlurt lrhrvvu stntiolinry linutroudurlivv plulosl uhirli ronsists4 iu svpurziting .'-auiil pluto und plm-ing tlwrvlwlwvcu flu puvliugi-d produc-t lo lu frozou und rwtiug thv uppvr pluto hy its owu weight ou will produvl to migziur und irl-s# tlm sum1 tlwrrlwl wlw-n 'hilu rrl'rigm'utlug' .vuid plulvs.

1F. .\pp:\|utfu.--4 for ip'aivk-frvuzuig .food produrts. ('oinpriaing u .-t:\tio|u\ry horizontally dsiowd rrfrigrrutwl plu(n for supporliugt uprodiu-t to hv. .from-u` u wmpurxiting pluk.l urruugod lo lne pliurod upon tho produrtv so .Quppnrlvil und (o vxiu'l. pressure {lun-von ovvi' thv vuiirv uppvr surfsu'c there! of. mul uli-uns for drlirvriug :i liquid rcfrig- @runt to (liv uppvr plzitil to rvfrigmulc thv lulvr without voluiug iuio rmihu'b willi the prodlu-t iulvrposud :nul pri-ssod bftwvt-.u the plntrs.,

' .L J. BARRY.

twoon under uniform and predetermined proshurv. and niuanS to pass :1 eooling inediuni through mid plattV to rifrigeratc said produvt whilv ougagd and coinprvssvd hy Y\::iir| platos.

ll. Appui-atml for frivzing food products 'oinpriuingj a hollow plato. a scvond plate supportod in apalud relation to said lirst platt'. and inval to adjust ymid spuud relatiou whurfhy a proiuvi placed hotwucn lmid platw will lio i-ngagoil and 'oinprcswd bctwwn said platvh` with :i nivasuitd pressure, and moan` for passing a cooling medium through iid hollow plate` to refrigerate said prndurt.

12.. Apparatus for produits. ronipri iug hit-tivo plato having plano oppositi-ly-dispostal priidurt-ongaging tavv. rouncttions for vii-ruiming a rooliug nivdiuni through mid platt@l to refrigvratv thv product 0ntraged hntwoon tlwui, and mtaus for separating thtx platos, said invano and AQuid vomit-i.'- tions boing @n dihposvil n to haYo two siihs ot' thiJ platos frei and unohstrurftod Jfor thtl plvsolita ion and rolnoval ol' tho produf't.

i3. Thxl Invthod ot' plirk-i'rvvziug a l'ood product lwtwoon rolativtly wpai'ahh' houtuoudut'tivtplato` which ronsiqo in plating thu food produvtsv hvtwovn Aaid platos and loufrinfmr tho uppor plate` to rest on Vmid food produrt h v it own right whilo L'ounturhalaniinL thv salut to apply :i nwasuied d0- `girl of prvssurv to Aaid food product.

14. The nwihod ol' uiirk-i'ivvziiig :i paf-ltagml food produrt lwtu'oon stationary lwatrondui'tivv platos uhirh ronsish4 in separat.- ing said pliitw and plarini: tliorvlwtxwoii thv paviiagvd produvt to ht' frozen and rwting thi` uppi-r plattx h v its own weight on said produi-t to vngagv and prv t`- tho Sonn tliol'vhot\\'uvii whilo roi'rigorating: will platw.

li'i. A\pparatu.\` tor |nivk-fi'wzmg food produits. mmprhing a tationarxy horizontally di posml rifrigvrntvd philn for supporlingli tho produot, to lio frown. a voopviating.r plato arrangvd to hv plavod upon tho produit-t so supportvd and lo @Kort prvssure rifrigerating food vhaniheied heat-conthewon wor tho entirt1 upper surt'zu'v thore-` of. and in wins for doliwringj a liquid rvlrigclant to tho llppii pluto to rvfriifviutt th(` hitir without roinin; r into vontzu't` with the produi-t intvrpowd and prvsuod hvtwvon the plzite-S.

J. J. BARRY.

DISCLAIMER 1,822,121.-Jaimes J. Barry, Halifax, Nova Scotia. REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

Patent dated Scptember 8, 1931. Disclaimer filed March 17, 1943,'by the assignee, General Foods Corporation. f

Herchy enters this disclaimer to claims l to 13, cation.

inclusive, and l5, in said Specifi- [Ojfcial Gazette April 13, 1.943.]

DISCLAIMER 1,822,121.-James J. Barry, Halifax, Nova Scotia. REFRIGERATING APPARATUS. Palvnt dntinfl Sfptuinlmr 8, 1931. Disclaimer filed Nlnrcb 17, 1943,'by thc assignee, General Ibods Corporatiun. I Hcrcby enters this disclaimer to claims 1 to 13, inclusive, and 15, in said specifi` cation.

[O cial Gazette April I3, 19113.] 

